EitC Scoops Double At Prestigious Football Awards

Everton in the Community (EitC) is celebrating a double win at the UK’s biggest regional football awards.

The 19^th Worldwide Shipping Solutions Northwest Football Awards ceremony returned to Manchester on Monday evening, celebrating the players, clubs, organisations and individuals making an impact.

With categories spanning footballing performance, community impact, inclusivity, lifetime achievement and more, the Northwest Football Awards was established to recognise excellence on and off the pitch and honour the community contribution throughout the region.

The official charity of Everton Football Club was crowned Premier League Community Club of the Season – for the fourth time in five years – after supporting more than 46,000 people through its programmes during 2025/26.

Dedicated to breaking down barriers and tackling social inequality since 1988, Everton in the Community supports some of the most vulnerable and underrepresented members of its local community through more than 50 evidence-based, inclusive programmes.

One such programme is Safe Hands, which took home the prestigious title of Premier league Community Initiative of the Year.

Safe Hands supports children and young people aged 10–19 who are unable to fully engage in mainstream education due to SEND, neurodiversity, emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) and other complex needs. It delivers personalised support plans alongside one-to-one and small-group sessions tailored to each participant. 

First launched in 2023, the provision was developed in response to the growing challenges affecting children and young people across Merseyside, including high demand for SEND support, limited access to appropriate provision and withdrawal from education.

Merseyside has some of the highest numbers of children with SEND nationally, with seven of the UK's 20 constituencies recording the highest levels of identified SEND located in the county.

Funded by the Premier League and supported by the Professional Footballer’s Association, Safe Hands provides a tailored support package to young people, offering one-to-one guidance from staff and small targeted group work, with the primary aim to support them to successfully reintegrate into education where appropriate or progress into post-16 education, training or employment pathways.

Sue Gregory, CEO of Everton in the Community, said: “Both awards are testament to the unifying power of football to build stronger communities and create brighter futures.

“They recognise the incredible work taking place across Everton in the Community every day, from supporting young people to overcome barriers to education through Safe Hands, to reaching more than 46,000 people through our wider programmes.

“None of this would be possible without the unwavering dedication of our brilliant staff, volunteers, participants, partners, donors and supporters. Thank you.”

Find out more about Everton in the Community’s life-changing work here.